English Reference

Word

fruity

US/ˈfɹuti/

UK/fɹˈuːti/

Definition

adj. having a strong taste or smell of fruit. In some informal situations, it can also describe a voice that sounds deep and rich.

adj. resembling or containing the flavour or aroma of fruit. When describing a voice, it refers to a resonant, rich, and slightly theatrical quality.

Examples

“This wine has a very fruity taste.”

“The chef added a splash of vinegar to balance the fruity sweetness of the berry sauce.”

“The actor's fruity baritone filled the small theatre, lending an air of unintended comedy to the more serious scenes of the play.”

Examples

simple

“This wine has a very fruity taste.”

contextual

“The chef added a splash of vinegar to balance the fruity sweetness of the berry sauce.”

complex

“The actor's fruity baritone filled the small theatre, lending an air of unintended comedy to the more serious scenes of the play.”

Usage

Typically used as a gradable adjective; often follows linking verbs like 'taste', 'smell', or 'sound'.

Real-World Examples

“In the twenty-first-century United States, “yogurt” often means a little fruity treat for women.”
JSTOR Daily · 11 Aug 2026
“Is it a fruity flavour that you can taste?”
Perfect Daily Grind · 12 Apr 2021

Etymology

From fruit + -y.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

fruitNounfruitionNounfruityAdjective

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/fruity

English Reference